Girls drop Maidens, Bulldogs handily
Kayla DeWit looks for a shot against a host of Bulldog defenders in the second quarter last Saturday.
The Columbia Falls girls basketball team continued its winning ways last week, downing Ronan 58-31 last Friday and thumping rival Whitefish 50-22 at home Saturday.
The Kats (9-7, 7-0) had a slow start against the Bulldogs and the score was tied at 7 apiece after the first quarter.
In the second, they played better defensively and offensively and had a 10-point lead at the half.
Kayla DeWit led the scoring with 13, followed by Hope Burlage with 11. DeWit had foul trouble early and sat out most of the first quarter. The Kats shot just one-for-11 to start the game. Jonna Werner had 13 rebounds in the win.
Against Ronan, DeWit had 21 and Burlage had 14. DeWit also had 16 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
Burlage and DeWit are becoming a nice one-two punch.
“The girls did what we needed to do to get the wins,” said coach Dan Fairbank.
Burlage’s confidence continues to grow with each game.
“She’s playing really well for us,” Fairbank said.
The girls travel to Polson Friday and Frenchtown Saturday as they wrap up their regular season. A win against the Pirates would give them sole possession of first place in the conference and the top seed in the divisional tournament, which is held in Ronan this year.
Fairbank said the team may adjust their defense against the Pirates to slow down Riley Kenney. The last game against Polson came down to the final seconds.
Against Frenchtown the goal is fairly simple: Stay healthy and prepare for the divisional tournament.
Ronan 9 10 8 4 - 31
Col. Falls 14 24 9 11 - 58
RONAN - Marissa McCrea 2, Courtney Clairmont 2, Alice VanGunten 8, Ashleigh Lynch 2, Ashley Grandchamp 14, Tailyr Irvine 3.
COLUMBIA FALLS - Kayla Stratton 2, Danielle Gilley 2, Kayla DeWit 21, Madison Sandefer 2, Courtney White 1, Hope Burlage 14, Jonna Werner 9, Erin Hill 2, Shaun Rowe 5.
Whitefish 7 3 4 8 - 22
Col. Falls 7 13 14 16 - 50
WHITEFISH - Olivia Nagler 3, Oliva Curtiss 3, Amanda Foley 4, Jessica Poe 2, Brooke Silliker 5, Simone Craft 3, Ashley Brewer 2.
COLUMBIA FALLS - Danielle Gilley 5, Kayla DeWit 13, Allison Dierenfield 3, Cortney White 2, Hope Burlage 11, Jonna Werner 5, Erin Hill 2, Shaun Rowe 9.